Spotting device for the tenpins of bowling alleys



Nov. 23 1926.

J. A. BARRY SPOTTING DEVICE FOR THE TENPINS 0FBOWLING ALLEYS Filed Feb. 12 1923 www Patented Nov. 23, 1926. .i

JOSEPH A. BARRY, F lPHILADELPIHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPOTTING DEVICE FOR THE TENPINS 0F BOWLING ALLEYS.

.Application filed February 12, 1923. Serial No. 618,490.

This invention relates to bowling alleys,

its turn will strike a third pin, etc.. In order to make the game depend upon the skill andexperience of a player, the pins should have relatively fixed positions.

A well known method of fixing the relative positions of the pins is to provide the alley bed with vertical holes through which are projected spotters. The pins are then mounted on the spotters and the spotters are then withdrawn from under the pins.

One of the rincipal objects of my invent-ion is to produce a spotter which could be easily withdrawn and which will not get stuck. j

A further object is to provide improved means for projecting the spotters upwardly of the bed.

A still further object is to provide improved means normally adapted to withdraw the spotters romfunder the pins.

A still further object is to provide improved means for mounting and replacing the spotters.

A still further object is to rovide an improved spotting apparatus or a bowling alley.

lVith the above and related objects in view this invention comprises the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described7 an embodiment whereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and is embraced within the scope of the appended claims. I

In the said drawing Fig. 1 is a plan of a portion of a bowling alley provided with my improved spotting apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged portion of Fig. 2 showing the position of the spotters when the pins are being mounted.

Fig. 5 is a plan of a split Washer for hold- 55 ing the spotters.

Referring more particularly to the drawing for a detail description of my invention,

6 represents a .bowling alley provided with a bed 7. The bed is provided vertically 00 with countersunk holes for the flanges of conical sockets 8 attached to the bed by screws, as shownin Fig. 4.

Underneath the bed is mounted a rectangular frame 9, provided at each corner with a hole for a rod 10 carried by a' head provided with al flange 11, joined with Y the bed by screws, as-shown in Fig. 3. The lower free ends of the rods are projected throu h the holes at the corners of the frame 9, t e projected portions being provided with threads for nuts 12. Upon the floor 13, underneath the alley, are mounted rods 14 having their upper free ends extended inside the nuts 12 and in alignment with the rods l0, 'l5

there being a gap left between the rods which is bridged by the nuts.

The rods 10 carry springs 16 which are normally adapted to force the frame 9 downwardly upon the nuts 12. The frame is provided transversely withV bars 17 which are provided with seats or recesses for the heels I18 of the conical spotters 20. Split washers l 21 fastened to the frame are adapted to engage the spotters above the heels and to hold them firmly to their seats. The spotters are beveled or cone shaped, being of lesser diameter at the top than at the heel.

Attached to the bed thereunder are brackets 22 provided with a pin 23, which serves- -90 as a fulcrum for a lever of the first class 24. One of the arms of the lever is in position to be reached from the rear of the alley and the opposite arm is in engagement with a bracket 25 carried by the frame 9 centrali 95 thereunder, said bracket being rovided wit v a slot having cams above an beneath the operating end of the arm.

To place the pins 26 in their proper rela- I tive positions, an attendant presses down upon the free arm of the lever 24 causing the arm engaged with the cam to swing upwardly forcing the frame 9 u wardly until the spotters 20 are projected t rou h the sockets from the ositions shown in ig. 2l to that shown in ig. 4. The attendant then places the pins 26 which, as shownv in Fig. 4, are provided with recessed bottoms, over the spotters. When all the pins have thus been placed, the lever is released and the springs 16 force the frame downwardly upon the nuts 12, withdrawing the spotters from under the ins, until the to s ,of the s otters are just elow the top 'suriace of the ed.

To prevent the displacement of the pins during the withdrawal of the spotters, the frame must be made to move along straight lines perpendicular to the bed and since the frame is moved downwardly when the springs expand, the expansion of the springs 16 along straight lines is secured by the bolts 10.

rlhe object of making the spotters cone shaped or beveled is to prevent them from getting stuck rin the sockets. To replace a worn spotter, the split washers permit of f the easy and quick withdrawal and the substitution of another spotter.

The arrangement of the rods 10 .and 14 and nuts 12 provides a convenient way for the replacement of worn or broken springs 16. Normally the frame 9 rests upon the nuts 12 which are held in position b the cutter pins 27 of the rods 14 provi ed transversely with perforations for the pins. When the pins are pulled out and the nuts removed from the rods 10, said nuts 12 slide down the rods 14, permitting the frame 9 to slide downwardly until4 the gaps between the rods 10 and 14 are above the frame when any of the springs may be removed from its rod and passed through the gap and a new spring substituted. The frame may then be forced upwardly by the lever, the nuts mounted on the rods 10 and the cutter pins inserted in the perforations of the rods 27.

The cam of the bracket 25 is adapted tok convert the curvilinear movement of the lever 24 into a straight up and down moveframe thereunder provided with conical s otters, said frame provided with seats or the spotters, a split4 spring washer mounted over each seat, said seats adapted to support the spotters vertically in alinement with the openings.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3, said spotters provided with heels engaged by said springs.

`downward movement.

7 In a bowling alley, the combination of a bed provided with vertical openings, a frame thereunder provided with spotters registering with said openings, and means for moving the frame to project the spotters through the openings comprising a lever, a bracket suspended from the frame provided with slot for the frame operating arm of the lever, said slot provided with cams above and below the operating end of the arm to cause the frame to move vertically.

8. The combination claimed in claim 7, and a bracket suspended from the bed provided with a fulcrum for the lever.

9. In a bowling alley, the combination of a bed provided with openings for the positioning of the bowling pins, a frame thereunder provided with spotters in alinement with the openings, rods sus ended from the bed and projected through t e frame, means mounted on said rods adapted to move the frame downwardly, pedestal rods in alinement with said suspended'rods, the tops and bottoms of the respective rods being spaced apart and nuts bridging said spaces.

10. The combination claimed in claim 9, and means removably connected with said ,pedestal rods adapted, when disconnected,

to permit the nuts and frame to descend.

11. In a bowling alley, the combination of a plurality of bowling pins having tapered recesses, a floor having a plurality of tapered holes therein, a tapered centering pin for each vof the tapered holes in the floor, and means for moving the tapered centering pin into engagement with a recess in a bowling pin to accuratel position the bowling pin. 12. In a bow ing alley, the combination of a plurality of bowling pins, a floor having a plurality of tapered holes therein, a ta ered centerlng pin for each ofthe tapered helles in the floor, means for moving the tapered centering pin into engagement with kthe bowling pin to accurately center the tapered holes therein, a tapered centering bowling pin, and yielding means for retractpin for each of said holesz said tapered pin ing the centering pins from the positions adapted to snugly lit said. hole and said 1 wherein the engage the bowling pins. recess when sai-d pin is laced on said oor.

5 13. In a owl1n alley, the combination In witness whereof have signed this of a plurality of owling pins having taspecification. g pered recesses, a floor having a plurality of v JOSEPH A. BARRY. 

